Display holder structure



Feb. 115 1941. H W B RQWN 2,231,795

DISPLAY HOLDERl STRUCTURE Filed May 15, 1940 Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y k2,231,395 Y DISPLAYrHoLDEnsLrRI-Jo'runn fnaraiewynrown, ngilaari'rex. l

.Application Mayas, 1940', serial No. 335,413

.3 Claims.

This invention relates to a holder structure designed primarily for displaying the identification number of a residence, but it is Lto be understood vthat a holder structure, in accordance vwith this invention is for vemployment vin any connection for which it may be `foundfapplicable.

The invention aims to provide, vin a manner as hereinafter set forth, a holder structure for the `purpose set forth, including 1a standard for supporting element having means for anchoring it in the ground in front of a residence Aand means for displaying on opposite sides of the standard the identification number of the residence to enable pedestrians walking .in opposite directions or occupants of vehicles travelling in opposite directions to conveniently read `such number.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a holderstructure for the identification numberof a Lresidence to enable a person to readily locate a residence being sought.

.The invention further aims to- 'provide, in .a manner as hereinafterset forth,.a .holderfstructure :for the purpose referred to includingli'ght reflecting means for directing attention thereto when one is. endeavoring Ato .locate the identication number of a residence.

The invention further Aaims to -provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a-holderstructure for the purpose referred to which .is-simple in Yits construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eicient in its use, readily assembled, expeditiously installed sin house number identifying positions, attractive, distinctive, pleasing in appearance, and .inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the `accorripanying drawing, wherein are shown embodimentsofthe invention, but it is to be understood thatchanges, variations and modifications may be resortedto which fall within the scope of the=invention as claimed.

A holder structure for the purpose set [forth andvin accordance with this invention :will include as an element thereof a comparatively thin flat support for disposing vertically, and preferably for anchoring in the lawn in frontofa residence, or it may be secured vertically vto abracket or otheranchor, the support.havingbothofltsisldes providediwith the simulation of van object, such, 'by -Way -o'f example,fas a bird or animal. Two Vforms of the invention are shown and described, Aandby way of example the simulationemployed 'in yone of the forms is an owl and in the -other 5 forma-dog or puppy. vIt is to be understood that x.any desirable-simulation may be employed'other than vreferred to in vconnection with a holder structure, in vaccord-ance with this invention for thepurpose of making such structure attractive, -10

`distinctive yand pleasing in appearance.

Inthe'drawing: *Figure k"1 is yanelevation looking towardsone side of `aliolder structure in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is'a'section on line -2-2 Figure l, *Figure 3-is avsection on line 3--3 Figure 1, and :Figure 4 is A4an velevation looking towards one side of a lmodified form of holder structure in accordance -With this invention.

With reference to Figures 1 lto 3, -the holder structure,` generally lindicated at 5, includes a lstandardor supporting element-6 having an up- -per section 'I anda lower section 8. AThe section I includesan upper end portion 9, an inter- 25 mediate portion Hl'and a'lower end portion 4I I. `V4The-upper end `portion 9 is made attractive and distinctive and for such purpose it is soformed "to simulate the Iovoidal-shaped body I2 and `the freund-'head v`I3-of an owl on both lsides thereof. 30

The-:eyesimulations 'of each owl simulation are Iin the form of apar of spaced colored disc-like reflectors "I4, I5, which are secured by suitable Vcemen'titious material to head I3. A pair of rel'flectors are arranged on'each side of said head. ,'35 y The -intermediate portion ll of the sectionkl is ofirectangular contour and is extended laterally in oppositedirections, as at I6, I1, with respect vto thevfbodysimulation I2. The lower end of :portion 9 mergesinto the 'top edge of portion 40 :I0 -centrally :ofthe latter, as atl. Thelower lend .portion yI I yof section 'I is of less width and length Withirespect to portion 9, is of tapered contour andmerges at its top into the lower edge ofportion I0 centrally of the latter, as at I9. v`4g', The` section 'I lpreferably Will be formed from a single length of sheet metal of the desired thick- `fnesszand length. It is to be understood that section 1 may be formed from any other suitable material. f

.Thesection 8 vconstitutes an anchoring means for element 6 and it is formed of a round bar 2li, of the desired length having one side of its upper v terminal v4portion 2| 'rabbetecL as Vat 22. The

:saidupperiterminal portion 2I is flattened to :55

provide it being of greater width than the remaining part of bar 20, and it is arranged against the lower part of the outer fact of the lower end portion Il of the section 1. The terminal por- 5 tion 2l is anchored to the outer face of portion Il and centrally of the latter by the holdfast means 23. The bottom edge of the portion Il of section 1 is disposed in proximity to the ledge or shoulder 24 formed by the rabbet 22. The

section 8 aligns with the lengthwise median of section 1.

The holder structure 5 includes two pair of oppositely disposed spaced parallel display retainers.

at 25, 26 and those of the other pair `at 21,28.

Each retainer is in the form of a channel-shaped strip. 'I'he retainers 25, 21 open downwardly.

The retainers 26, 28 open upwardly. Each rel-jij tainer is open at each end and is of less length than the length of the rectangular portion I0 ofthe section 1. The retainers 25, 26 are positioned against one side of portion I0 in superposed spaced parallel relation and are equallyspaced from the ends of portion I0. The retainers 21, 28 are positioned against the other `side of portion Il) in superposed spacedparaHelrelation and are equally spaced from the ends of portion l0. The retainers are spaced equidistant from the top and bottom edges of the said portion IU 30 of section 1.

The retainers are detachably secured to both sides of the said portion I0 and maintained in the position aforesaid bya set of spaced holdfast devices 29, four in number and each being common to a pair of retainers. The holdfast devices 29 |also constitute removable abutment means for releasably maintaining or confining the display to be referred to in the retainers. Each holdfast device 29 is in the form of a headed bolt 39 and a nut 3|. The bolts are passed through the retainers in proximity to the ends of the latter and through spaced parts of the portion I0 of section 1. The heads of the bolts abut one pairof retainers and the nuts bind against the other pair of retainers. The bolts extend across the channels formed by the retainers inwardly of the open outer ends of the.

channels. The -display referred to will be the identication number of a dwelling or a place of business and will be formed of a Aset of panels of equal dimensions rarranged in sidewise .abutting relation. The panels will be provided with digits which when combined will set forth such identification number as indicated at 32. By way of example, the number of panels of the set are shown as four. Each panel is indicated at 33 and its digit at 34. If it does not require four digits to provide the number 32, say but three or two then blank pan- 50 els Iare employed to .aggregate four. It is to |be understood that certain of the panels may =be provided with oughts and lthat the number of the panels may be great-er than four, if so the length of the retainers will be increased accordingly. A set of panels is slidably mounted in the retainers 25, 26 yand a set of panels is slidafbly of the panels relative to the retainers is had when the holdfast devices 29 have been removed. After the panels have been positioned in the retainers, one pair of retainers with ,a set of panels therein is positioned against one side of the portion I 0 of section 1, .and the bolts of the holdfast ldevices are extended through the said pair ofl retainers and said portion I9, and when .the bolts are suposi- The retainers of one pair are indicated Yture 35and it is designated 4U.

, purposes 4as Roomsj For Sale, etc.

- movably .conning the displays in the pairs of U0 l retainers. mounted in .the retainers 21, 28. The mounting tioned they will extend beyond .the other side of portion I0. The other pair of retainers, with the other set of .panels therein are mounted on the extended portions of the bolts, and .the nuts 3| are then screwed home whereby the said pairs of re- 5 tainers with panels therein will be removably secured to opposite sides of the portion I0. When the holdfast devices 29 are in position securing the pairs of retainers and sets of panels to the section 1 of element 6, the bolts 30 yact to releas- 10 ably maintain or conne the panels in the retainers. The form of the latter provides for the inter-changing of Ithe panels when desired.

The modied form of the holder structure vshown by Figure 4 is designated .at 35 and it in- 15 cludesa standard or supporting element '36 so formed as to have both of its sides simulate the appearance fof a dog or puppy. The element 36 includes .a pair of spaced .aligned anchors 31, 38 therefor in the form of depending rods of the 0 desired'length. The structure 35 includes two v,pairs of retainers; one for correlation with :one .sideand the other for correlation with the other v,side of element 36.

Each pair of retainers is to display a set of panels. The pairs of retainers i are of the same form and arrangement as the retainers of the holder structure 5. But one pair of retainers is illustrated with respect to element 36 and such pair is indicated at 39, and but one set of panels zare illustrated with respect to struc- 30 The eye simulations of each of the dog or puppy simulations are in the form of a. pair of spaced colored reiiectors 4l arranged `and mounted in the same manner as the reectors I4, l5. Preferably the reflectors 3 of each form Will be red.

The term object employed in the claims is .to be considered .as generic to Ithe simulation of a bird,` -an animal, the human face, a man or a child.

Instead of having the numbers in the panels, it is obvious, of course, that letters can be employed so that if desired the display can be used for such It Will be not-ed from the description herein that this device i5 lends itself most particularly .t-o low 4cost manufacturing and is extremely durable. With orditherefor, a pair of spaced parallel oppositely disposed channel-shaped one piece retainers arranged transversely of each side of said element m and yadapted to hold a display, said retainers being open at each end and formed with a pair of aligned transverse openings adjacent each end,

said l-pairs of retainers Ibeing arranged against said element intermediate its ends, and a set of UU removable holdfast 4devices common to said pairs o f retainers and correlating with said openings for detachably securing said retainers to said e1ement, said devices constituting abutments for re- 2. In a display holder structure, an upstanding supporting element including an upper portion, a

lower 4porti-on and an intermediate portion, said upper portion being so formed to direct attention thereto vat each side thereof, said intermediate portion being of rectangular contour and ext-ending `laterally in opposite directions with respect to the saidother portions, means secured to said lower portion anddepending fromthe latter for 75 :anchoring said element, a pair of spaced parallel oppositely disposed channel-shaped one piece retainers arranged horizontally of each side of said intermediate portion yand adapted to hold a `display, said retainers being open at each end and formed with a pair of aligned .transverse openings adjacent each end, and a set of removable Aholdfast devices common to said ypairs of retainers and correlating with said openings for detachably securing said retainers to said intermediate portion, said devices constituting abutments for removably conning .the displays in the pairs of retainers.

3. In a display holder structure, an upstanding supporting element including .an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediate portion, said upper portion being so formed to direct attention thereto at each side thereof, said intermediate portion being of rectangular contour and extending laterally in opposite directions with respect to .the said other portions, means secured to said lower portion and depending from the latter for .anchoring said element, a pair of spaced parallel oppositely disposed channel-shaped one piece retainers arranged horizontally of each side of said intermediate portion and adapted to hold a display, said retainers being open at each end and formed With :a pair of aligned transverse openings adjacent each end, .and a set of removable holdfast devices common to said pairs of retainers vand correlating with said openings for detachably securing said retainers to said intermediate portion, said devices `constituting .abutments for removably confining the displays in the pairs of retainers, said upper portion being of greater length than the intermediate and lower portions, said lower por-tion being disposed centrally with respect to the intermediate portion and tapered.

HARDIE W. BROWN. 

